Tuesday Bolts – 11.16.10

Just how important is Nick Collison? Ian Levy of Hickory High looks: “The lineups featuring Collison accounted for roughly 40% of the minutes played for the Thunder last season. Those lineups posted a Defensive Rating 99.5, which is roughly 8 points better than the 107.6 they put up without Collison. The improvement wasn’t just at the defensive end either. The Thunder posted an Offensive Rating of 109.8 with Collison on the floor, a full point better than the 108.8 they posted without him.”

Kelly Dwyer: “What a win. Russell Westbrook was hampered by foul trouble in the first half, but came through with 20 points and seven assists alone in the final 24 minutes. Kevin Durant missed 11 of 17 shots with Andrei Kirilenko in his face, but he also nailed 16 of 16 from the line on his way toward 30 points. And Serge Ibaka? Serge Ibaka needs to start. Clowntime is over, Scott Brooks, because this guy (22 points on 13 shots, four blocks, 11 rebounds, and zero turnovers) changes the game for your team.

Darnell Mayberry: “So much has been so bad for the Oklahoma City Thunder that the last thing this team needed Monday night was a tough start. But the Thunder found itself in a nightmarish start when Utah point guard Deron Williams promptly splashed his first three 3-point attempts through the net, opening a nine-point lead less than three minutes into the game. And with the way OKC has underachieved all season defensively and sputtered at times offensively, there was little to suggest the Thunder could dig itself out of a hole in one of the NBA’s toughest buildings. After securing a hard-fought 115-108 victory over the Jazz, however, the Thunder showed there is at least one characteristic from last year’s lovable 50-win team that has indeed spilled over into this season of inconsistency. Pride.”

Mayberry’s postgame thoughts: “Serge Ibaka was a force tonight. He started in place of Jeff Green, who aggravated his sprained left ankle Sunday against San Antonio, and again made the most of his opportunity. If Ibaka’s jumper starts to fall like it was against the Jazz, and the Thunder begins to play any kind of defense, I don’t know how a team hangs with these guys. And what made Ibaka’s night so impressive is that he hit shots at critical moments, when Utah was making a run or the momentum was in danger of swinging heavily back to the Jazz. Ibaka also hit the glass hard, with a game-high 11 rebounds to go with four blocks.”

Jerry Sloan on Russell Westbrook: “Anytime they give [Westbrook] help, and he doesn’t need much help, he has the ability to get to the basket, and he shot pretty well from the top of the key,” Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. “He’s a terrific player, a dynamic player and he’s so lively. He’s tough to handle and so is Durant. I thought our guys worked very hard to guard him and he goes to the free-throw line 16 times and doesn’t miss — that makes a difference.”

Some thoughts from OKC Thunderdome: “The Thunder did get very fortuitous calls in the 4th quarter that will have Jazz incensed on Tuesday morning. The first was when Durant, covered by CJ Miles, came out to the top of the key on offense to catch a pass and then pivoted back toward the lane. He quite blatantly dropped his shoulder into Miles, sending Miles rocketing backward like he had been shot by a canon ball. Amazingly, the refs called the foul on Miles, ostensibly because he had not given Durant room to receive the pass.”

I’ve got to mention this article from NewsOK. The writer is looking into whether or not to consider “Thunder” plural or singular. And he mentions how the papers seem to favor singular while blogs go plural. And one of the blogs he cites is “An Oklahoma City Thunder blog.” I assume that’s this one, since that’s the tag at the top. He also uses “Real Basketball Talk” which I assume is supposed to be Pro Basketball Talk. Overall, I’d say that’s a fail.

The 3 biggest lineups besides the standard starting lineup are +41 while the standard starting lineup is -15. Whether any of the other 3 could do better than that against the full force of opponent starters requires testing. So far the lineup with Ibaka instead of Green did great in a short test of that. Hopefully that test is not over.

Ibaka / Krstic without Green but with the rest of the starters, and Ibaka / Green without Krstic but with the rest of the starters are both strongly positive per minute, the two best lineups for the team on net +/- gain though the first one has gotten 3 times the run and that is only partly based on Green's injury. The time gap probably narrows. I'll take either over the current starting lineup given that it remains in last place on net +/- loss for the season.

This season Ibaka / Krstic is the best big man pair by total team +/- gain for the season and probably per minute too. Ibaka / Collison is currently -3 but obviously just getting started. Collison / Krstic +1.

Jax is correct that Ibaka/Collison was the Thunder’s best big man pair last season - if you use total team +/- gain for the season.

Collison / Krsitic was the best big man pair per minute, if you stipulate a 50 minute minimum and 3 times better than Ibaka / Collison per minute. C / K got 150 minutes. If you played by the numbers it should have seen more time.

Collison / White was best per minute if you let any pair in, but that one only got 21 minutes. Won by 14 though.

Speaking of Randolph, earlier today on rumors:Zach Randolph is in the last year of his contract, which is paying him $17.3 million, and he let everyone know Monday how much he wants to sign an extension with the Memphis Grizzlies.

"I want to do it now," he told FanHouse. "Sooner the better. If we don't do it now, there are a lot of other teams out there who like me."Randolph and the team talked some time ago and the Grizzlies offered a reported three-year, $40 million extension. The two sides have not spoken since that time.

"I'd like to get it out of the way, but they (his agent and the Grizzlies) aren't really talking right now, at least not that I know of," Randolph said. "And that's disappointing. I like playing for this team. I want to stay with this team. I'm a blue-collar player in a blue collar town, and it's a good fit. I'm in my prime, and we all know it's a business, too."

@Gregi wouldnt write off memphis so fast as not being a playoff team, they have 7 losses, but they are to lakers, atlanta, magic, dallas, boston. They lost to the suns in double OT and to the warriors by 6. Not bad losses

AC :I don’t think Iggy makes any sense on this team. He’s an overpaid, rich-man’s Thabo. It just doesn’t make any sense. We don’t need anyone, but if I was going to get anybody it would be a 3pt shooter a la Mike Miller or a long term center a la Perk.

Iggy is a lot more than a rich man's Thabo. He's similarly skilled defensive IMO, and he's way more effective offensively. He can actually dribble and pass the ball, plus he finished on the break.

I think he'd be a decent fit, even if he's not a terrific shooter, but he just costs too much for what he would be to this team.

f5alcon :@Greggasol would be nice but memphis might match even if we offer max, thabeet is horrible, makes harden look like the best pick ever.

Memphis isn't going to the playoffs, so I can't imagine them matching an offer that would send them over the cap. If they choose to extend Randolph (which would not surprise me in the least), I think there's definitely less than a 50% chance Gasol is in Memphis next season.

I don't think Iggy makes any sense on this team. He's an overpaid, rich-man's Thabo. It just doesn't make any sense. We don't need anyone, but if I was going to get anybody it would be a 3pt shooter a la Mike Miller or a long term center a la Perk.

The name hasn't been mentioned in quite a while, but Gortat has been playing well this season from my eyes and what I've heard. Thorpe thinks he's "the key guy in a trade before February." Ibaka/Gortat is about the best we could throw at Gasol/Bynum in the playoffs.

@justinOur offense would be incredible, no one could even dream of stopping us on the fastbreak. But I agree, his shooting skills are too poor to justify paying him that sort of money. I still want our next big money maker to be at the PF/C position - Gasol and Ibaka would be deadly.

Bryan :@kfmsooner I agree that Green is no Lamar Odom. But, I think he has value in a similar role, sharing time with Durant and Ibaka at the 3 and 4.I’ve said this a number of times now, but I would actually start Westbrook, Harden, Durant, Ibaka and Krstic, and bring Green off the bench first for Harden. I think the resulting lineup gives the Thunder a lot of advantages by forcing opposing teams to either break with their normal rotation, or guard either Green or Durant with a SG.

Greg :Sheridan from ESPN was asked yesterday in a chat about what type of return Philly could get for Iguodala. HWhat can the Sixers get for AI9?Chris Sheridan (2:46 PM)I continue to believe that the trade that makes sense for them if they strictly want a salary dump is to OKC for Collison and MoP’s expiring contracts along with Jeff Green and a No. 1.

I like Iggy a ton and would probably love this trade even though it makes no sense. Iggy's overpaid, and he can't really shoot. Also we'd have a buttload of dollars hooked up to places other than PF/C. But man oh man would our team be fun to watch.

I've been reading the blog for over a year and you tend to refer to the Thunder as a singular noun instead of plural. Not sure what NewsOK is talking about. Either one works I think, but the plural sounds more normal to me. The Brits pluralize Chelsea, Arsenal, etc. and I trust them on their grammar.

Theres no offense being run. Our offense is getting the ball to KD or Russell taking 1 or 2 seconds to score. Last night I saw glimpses of team basketball. We need to continue that. Look at miami even when you have 3 superstars they cant get it going. Teams win championships

@kfmsoonerI agree that Green is no Lamar Odom. But, I think he has value in a similar role, sharing time with Durant and Ibaka at the 3 and 4.

I've said this a number of times now, but I would actually start Westbrook, Harden, Durant, Ibaka and Krstic, and bring Green off the bench first for Harden. I think the resulting lineup gives the Thunder a lot of advantages by forcing opposing teams to either break with their normal rotation, or guard either Green or Durant with a SG.

Right a solid backup that doesnt make alot of mistakes and gets other people in the game. A passing point guard wow what a thought. Like last night Ibaka getting 20 something. Due to getting him the open shots. Dont expect to win more then 50 games when you got KD and Westbrook as a one man team.

Maynor is over two years older than Harden, which is significant at that early development.

Maynor doesn't really stabilize the offense. Our offense is the worst in the league with Maynor in the game. He's better than the +/- indicates but he has been right around average this year. Nothing great, nothing terrible. Which fits his player profile to a 'T', IMO.

Maynor 22 Harden 23 Big age difference. Maynor is a solid PG. True PG with great game management skills and smart. 20 point difference because you got westbrook who is either shooting a jumper or going to the rack. while the thunder have no spacing and no passing lanes. Then when Westbrook is out of control and throwing up fish out of water jumpers. Maynor comes in to stabilize the offense. Bring back order to chaos. Not getting anybody into the game. Hit threes. He hits more threes then Harden and Sef. Hes not a shooting guard.

Bryan :I think you keep Green, he gives them depth and versatility and scoring punch. I’d give him 30 mins off the bench in a Lamar Odom type of role. He would be hard for a second unit to stop.

I understan your point, but one of my pet peeves is saying that Jeff Green should be Lamar Odom. JG is nowhere near what Odom brings to the table and never will. When you look up Odom's numbers and compare them to Green's, plus watch them on TV, you'll see Odom is far more skilled. Odom's rebound rate is superior, as is his 3pt%. Odom is a much better ball handler and interior defender. Odom is a PF who can play SF, Green is a SF who plays PF, and poorly at that...

OKC Thunder :Maynor has outplayed Harden and Sef. Hasnt had a bad game. Sef has good points but has more bad.

It's easy to play 'well' when you don't do anything. If Maynor can continue to his three pointers then he has a lot of value. Otherwise, he's just a bump on a log most of the time when he's in the game. Our offense is TWENTY POINTS better per 100 possessions with Maynor off the court. Small sample, and probably has a lot to do with Russ' hot start, but still pretty much slams home the point that Maynor is ordinary running and offense.